New Portland State Rec Center Will House City's Archives

Portland, OR — The $71 million Portland State University student recreation center, scheduled to open in 2010, will have a unique feature, courtesy of the city of Portland, OR.

The city is contributing $10 million to build the 181,300-square-foot center. In exchange, the city will put its extensive collection of archives and historic records in the center's climate-controlled basement, which has 13-foot ceilings, according to the Portland Business Journal. The city also will get fifth-floor office space.

Portland's archive consists of 750,000 photographs, drawers of maps and ordinances that date back to the city's inception in 1851.

The new student recreation center will include a two-court gymnasium; a 1/8-mile, three-lane running track; a synthetic floor gymnasium equipped with dasher boards for floor hockey and indoor soccer; a large cardiovascular and weight training facility; two multipurpose group fitness suites; an aquatic complex, including a lap pool and whirlpool spa; new locker rooms; a climbing wall; and working space for student clubs and intramurals.